Tag Archives: trains

History of Women in Transit: Inspirational Women in Transport

Transportation has always been a male-dominated field, with women often discouraged or outright banned from participating in the industry.  However, many woman have overcome these challenges, proven their ability to do the job, and lobbied to get all-male unions and associations to change their rules.

In honor of Women’s History Month, we’re highlighting just a few of the  many women who have been involved in the transit industry.

History of Women in Transit: Inspirational Women in Transport

Anne Bush

Anne Bush was the first woman in the United States to receive a driver’s license, which at that time was called a “steam engineer’s license,” in the year 1900.

Alice Hulyer

Alice Huyler Ramsey was the first woman to drive from one coast of the United States to the other.  She took three other women with her, and they traveled with no maps and often on dirt roads .  She said,“if we got lost, we’d take to the high ground and search the horizon for the nearest telephone poles with the most wires. It was a sure way of locating the transcontinental railroad which we knew would lead us back to civilization.”  She later began racing cars against men and frequently won.

Helen Shultz

In 1922, Helen Shultz started the Red Ball Transportation Company.  She dealt with heavy rains destroying the roads her buses traveled on and various financial struggles, but she capitalized on the newspapers calling her the “Iowa Bus Queen.”  She eventually sold the business for $200,000.

Mary Walton

Mary Walton received a patent in 1879 for a device that filtered smokestack emissions through water to clean the air of pollutants.  The device was used on trains in New York City.  Mary then received a patent for a sound dampening system that she sold to the Metropolitan Railroad of New York City.

Olive Dennis

Olive Dennis was the second woman to graduate college with a civil engineering degree, and she became the engineer of service for the B&O railroad.  She received a patent for her invention of the Dennis ventilator, and she contributed to the invention and design of air-conditioned coaches, dimmers on overhead lights, individual reclining seats, and stain-resistant upholstery.  She was also the first woman to be a member of the American Railway Engineering Association.

For more reading on these women, see Women in Transportation: Changing America’s History.

Kathleen Andrews

Kathleen Andrews was a bus driver and transport Manager.  She was the first woman to become a Transit Operator, Dispatcher and Manager in Alberta, Canada.

Read more about Kathleen Andrews here.

Joyce Barry

Joyce Barry was the first woman to become a tram driver in Australia.  She started as a conductor during WWII, and when all of the other female conductors were fired after the war was over, she was rehired.

The tramway union objected to women becoming drivers because of the strength it took to use the manual handbrake and the ability it took to climb onto the roof and retrieve the trolley-pole if the trolley-rope broke.   Having experience felling trees, driving tractors and milking cows, Joyce thought these objections were “‘complete balderdash.”  The union went so far as to go on strike to protest the training of Joyce and another woman, Catherine Stone.

In 1975, nearly 20 years after the union passed a resolution to forbid female drivers, the resolution was rescinded, and Joyce became Australia’s first female tram driver.   She worked as a driver for the next seven years.

Read more about Joyce Barry here.

Karen Harrison

Karen Harrison was the first female train driver in Britain.  She applied with the British Rail at only 16 years old, and when the recruiters met her and found out she was a woman, they tried to get her to become a secretary instead.   She said her career was “Ten years of hell, ten years of heaven,” because she enjoyed the job, but had to endure verbal and physical abuse from her male co-workers.   She was also an active trade unionist and eventually presided over the train driver’s union’s annual conference.

Rosa Parks

Rosa Parks is an icon of the defeat of the Jim Crow laws of racial segregation in the United States.  She refused to give up her bus seat to a white passenger in an act of protest and was subsequently arrested.  She followed in the footsteps of other African Americans who had protested in a similar way, such as Irene Morgan, Sarah Louise Keys and several other women and men.  She became a symbol of the Montgomery Bus Boycott, and worked with other civil rights leaders such as Edgar Nixon and Martin Luther King Jr.   She was fired from her job as a seamstress and received many death threats.

The Women’s Political Council was the first group to endorse the bus boycott, and then the movement quickly spread as 40,000 African American bus commuters walked and took carpools rather than taking the bus.   Rosa Parks was considered by black community leaders to be the perfect plaintiff for their legal case, as she was a mature, responsible woman with steady employment.  The boycott continued for 381 days, and the supreme court finally ruled on a different case, Browder vs. Gayle, that segregation on buses was unconstitutional.  Rosa Parks is known around the world as a leader in the civil rights movement.

Read more about Rosa Parks here.

The history of women in transit has been a long, hard road, but today, women are involved in every level of transit.  They are still a much smaller percentage of the total transit workforce, however, especially in management positions.

According to the WTS Glass Ceiling Baseline Study, in some cities in the US, women make up 36% of all transit employees, but only 4% of transportation companies having 50% or more women in management positions.

We’d love to hear from you!  Do you have a story about being a female first in the transit industry?  Or how your gender has influenced your opportunities and advancement?  How has working with women expanded your company’s perspective and vision?

Transit News Roundup (Feb 29, 2016) – Latest Industry Updates

Transit News for bus, train and ferry operators

Every day we find transit news that is relevant and useful to you. But if you missed these daily posts on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Pinterest and Linkedin, you can find them all here in one place each week!

Here’s what happened in the transit world last week:

BUSES

IA Signals Change for Bus

Infrastructure Australia is starting a 15 year plan to privatize state owned bus operators.

How to Create an Awesome Bus Experience

Ideas from Share the Bus for making a bus trip a great experience for your passengers.

Bus Crash Highlights Seat belt Concerns

Companies say they’d have to increase fleet size if seat belts are made mandatory.

SCHOOL BUSES

Campaigner’s Joy After Cuts to Free School Bus Travel are Halted

A new plan nearly forced students to walk 30 miles a week, but protesters were successful in stopping the plan.

Anderson School District 1 Bus Driver Honored for Saving Student’s Life

This bus driver of 26 years saved a student’s life by paying attention to traffic.

Missouri Bill Targets School Bus Stops Near Sex Offenders

The bill will require school bus stops to be more than 500 feet away from the homes of sex offenders.

Transit News Roundup - Latest Industry Updates

TRAINS

Why are There Stones Along Railway Tracks?

Have you ever noticed the stones along the sides of railway tracks and wondered why they are there?  Here’s your answer!

PUBLIC TRANSIT

Most Public Transit Systems are Too Big for Humans to Comprehend

If you’ve ever had a hard time reading a transit map, it may be because the systems, and all the choices you must make about routes, times, and modes of transit, are just too much to comprehend.

A Brief History of Subway Etiquette Campaigns

Problems like people leaving trash on the train and taking up too much space on the bus have been around for a 100 years.

These are the 9 Cities in the World Where Commuting is the Most Expensive

In some cities, commuting can cost as much as 25% of an individual’s salary!  One more reason to take public transit.

The Progress of Public Transportation in Los Angeles 1990 vs. 2040

It’s interesting to see the growth!

How the CTA Keeps Chicago Moving Through Winter

They have a lot of systems in place for battling the snow and cold!

Public Transportation Benefits

Public transportation saves money, is good for sustainability, reduces congestion and so much more! And in case you missed it, here’s a link to last month’s article.

Public Transportation Saves $16,000 per Year

In a comparison of 20 major US cities, public transportation saved individuals between $10,000 and $16,000 per year.

Mapping the Real Cost of Public Housing- Transportation Included

New research considers how affordable public housing really is when access to public transportation is taken into consideration.

TRANSIT TECHNOLOGY & ADVANCES

Transit Data in Motion

General Transit Feed Specification (GTFS) is an important part of urban mobility.   This is the format we put transit schedules into, so they can be picked up by Google and trip planning apps.

Smart and Scalable Urban Traffic Control

A real time system made possible by advances in AI.

Advance Transit to Launch Bus App

The app provides real time tracking and status updates.

Construction Begins on Elon Musk’s Exciting New Transportation Hyperloop

The hyperloop will transport passengers at 800 miles per hour from one major city to the next.

Eltis Mobility Update

Eltis on sustainable urban mobility and how a railway station in France became on intermodal hub.

OTHER

Transit Employee Appreciation Day

Employee Appreciation Day is March 4th, and we have some awesome ideas for making it a special day for your hard working employees.

What do you think about these stories?  We’d love to hear from you!

Take Transit to See Mum for Mothering Sunday

Mothering Sunday is March 6 in the UK, and if you’re planning to go see Mum, there are no shortage of transit options.

Take Transit to See Mum this Mothering Sunday

Ferries

The UK offers over 100 ferry routes to France, Ireland, Belgium, Spain and more!  This is a great option if you want to have your car with you when you get to your destination.  Does mum live closer than a ferry ride away?  Pick her up and take her on an outing!  Take the ferry, then take a drive through the countryside.

Coaches

Coaches are a lovely way to get around Britain, allowing you to relax and enjoy the sights instead of worrying about driving.  They’re also one of the least expensive ways to travel, so if you’ve thought that you couldn’t afford to see Mum this year, maybe an inexpensive coach ride is the way to go.

Channel Tunnel – An Undersea Train

If you need to quickly get from London to Paris, the undersea train can get you there in just over 2 hours.  There aren’t many places in the world where you can hop over to another country for lunch, so take advantage of where you live and take mom out to see the sights and enjoy some new cuisine.

Bus & Rail

For smaller, local trips, bus and rail offer convenience and speed.  You don’t have to worry about parking your car or the wear and tear on your vehicle.  If Mum takes a ride with you, and she’s worried about safety, let her know that the bus and train are safer than driving.  Traveling this way will also give the two of you the chance to fully connect with each other during the ride, rather than you being focus on traffic.  And if you have kids and bring them along, they’ll love the bus or the train, and Grandma will love watching their excitement!

Whichever way you choose to see Mum this year, we hope you have a lovely day together!  Happy Mothering Sunday from AddTransit!

 

 

 

Transit News Round Up (Feb 16, 2016) – Latest Industry Updates

Transit News by AddTransit

Every day we find transit news that is relevant and useful to you. But if you missed these daily posts on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Pinterest and Linkedin, you can find them all here in one place each week!

Here’s what happened in the transit world last week:

SHUTTLE BUSES AND SCHOOL BUSES

WA to Trial Driver-less Shuttle Bus in Australian First

The shuttle bus has multi sensor technology, can transport up to 15 passengers, and has an average speed of 25 kilometres per hour.

Mayfield School in Whitehaven Celebrates a Double!  A National Award and a New Bus

They were recognized for helping the children, many of whom have difficulties walking, achieve movement independence.  They won a bus that will take them on field trips.

Texas District Tests School Bus Stop Arm Extension

The stop arm extension extends into the next lane of traffic, forcing drivers to stop to let kids cross the road.  They hope it will the stop arm running violations, of which there are thousands per day.

 New Bill Introduces Major Safety Upgrades for Charter Buses

Proposed upgrades include fire-resistant seats, automatic emergency lighting, and more.  Many charter bus owners fear that the cost of the upgrades would put them out of business.

Transit News Round Up: Latest Industry Updates

TRAINS

V/Line Delays: Acting Rail Cheif Rejects Any Conflict of Interest Over Bus Company Selected to Replace Trains

The V/Line is having issues with its network, and in the meantime the Bendigo Coachlines has replaced the train service.  There is a questions of a conflict of interest because the bus company is run by the husband of the the rail company chair.  V/Line maintains that the decision was made with appropriate measures in place to avoid a conflict of interest.

PUBLIC TRANSIT

California DOT Admits that More Roads Mean More Traffic

Building more roads and roads with more lanes just means more cars.  Public transit actually reduces traffic.

Obama ‘Releases Clean Transportation System’ Plan

A proposal for a $10 per barrel fee to be paid by oil companies, which would raise the funds for new investments in public transit.

How Will We Travel in the Cities of Tomorrow?

Keys to urban mobility include addressing safety, the environment, and economic opportunities.

Like Millennials, More Older Americans Steering Away from Driving

Only 69% of 19 year olds have a driver’s license and many are putting off getting one because they prefer public transit.  Similarly, older Americans are declining to renew their licenses once they expire in areas where public transit is cheap and reliable.

 Here Map Expands Public Transit Data Across the Globe

Here Map provides transit data to over 1,000 cities worldwide.   Transit companies need to have their schedules online in order to take advantage of getting their information to their customers with apps like this.

THE FUTURE OF TRANSIT

Elon Musk Hints that his Next Project Could be an Electric Plane

The engineer who brought us the concept of the hyperloop is considering designing and vertical take off and landing electric plane.

Hyperloop Transit System Could Be Hurtling Toward Australia

“‘We’re trying to build the first full-scale Hyperloop in a country with a high-enough density of population, long distances and local infrastructure,’ says Mr Gresta.”

VALENTINE’S DAY

Transit Love Stories: Meeting Cupid on the Bus or Train

Read stories of people meeting their true love on the bus and train platform proposals.

The Love Bus

Another sweet story of finding love on the bus.

Valentine’s Day Romance on Buses and Trains

And our own roundup of stories: from engagement rings in a breath mint box to a woman who feel for a charming smile on a bus stop poster.

Railway Conferences & Conventions in 2016

We’ve rounded up Railway Conferences for all of 2016!  Make sure to register early so you don’t miss out on all the great information and networking opportunities.

Railway Conferences & Conventions in 2016

FEBRUARY

What: Light Rail 2016

When: February 24-25

Where: Pullman Melbourne on the Park, Melbourne, Australia

Visit the Light Rail 2016 website for more information.

 

What: 4th Railway Forum Berlin

When: February 29 to March 1, 2016

Where: Estrel Congress and Messe Center, Berlin, Germany

Visit the 4th Railway Forum website for more information.

 

MARCH

What: ERTMS and TCS 2016: The Future of Railway Signalling in the UK

When: March 22-23, 2016

Where: Stephenson Harwood, London, UK

Visit the Waterfront Conference Company for more information.

 

APRIL

What: Expo Ferraviaria 2016

When: April 5-7

Where: LinGotto Fiere, Turin, Italy

Visit the Expo Ferraviaria website for more information.

 

What: Infarail

When: April 12-14

Where: Excel, London, UK

Visit the Infarail website for more information.

 

What: Joint Rail Conference

When: April 12-15

Where: Columbia Marriott, Columbia, South Carolina, United States

Visit the American Society of Mechanical Engineers website for more information.

 

What: International Rail Safety Seminar and Expo

When: April 18-19

Where: Orlando, Florida, United States

Visit the Rail Safety Seminar and Expo website for more information.

 

What: Smart Rail Europe

When: April 19-20

Where: Passenger Terminal, Amsterdam, Netherlands

Visit the Smart Rail Europe website for more information.

 

MAY

What: Rail Safety Summit

When: May 5, 2016

Where: Royal College of Physicians, Regent’s Park, London, UK

Visit the Rail Summits website for more information.

 

What: CORE 2016

When: May 16-18

Where: Melbourne, Australia

Visit the Core2016 website for more information.

 

What: Rail Power 2016

When: May 26-27

Where: Business Design Centre, London, UK

Visit the Rail Power website for more information.

 

What: World Metro Rail Congress

When: May 26-27

Where:  Business Design Centre, London, UK

Visit the World Metro Rail Congress website for more information.

 

JUNE

What: International Rail Rodeo

When: June 15-19, 2016

Where: Sheraton Grand Hotel, Phoenix, Arizona, United States

Visit the American Public Transportation Association website for more information.

#APTArail16

 

What: Rail Conference

When: June 19-22, 2016

Where: Sheraton Grand Hotel, Phoenix, Arizona, United States

Visit the American Public Transportation Association website for more information.

#APTArail16

 

What: APTA Rail Conference

When: June 19-27, 2016

Where: Sheraton Grand, Phoenix, Arizona, United States

Visit the American Public Transportation Association website for more information.

 

AUGUST

What: AREMA Conference

When: August 28-31

Where: Hilton, Orlando, Florida, United States

Visit the American Railway Engineering and Maintenence of way Association website for more information.

 

Did we miss one?  Let us know and we’ll add it!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Transit News Round Up (Jan 25, 2016) – Latest Industry Updates

A roundup of transit news. What's happening with buses, trains, ferry and public transit.

Every day we find transit news that is relevant and useful to you. But if you missed these daily posts on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Pinterest and Linkedin, you can find them all here in one place each week!

Here’s what happened in the transit world last week:

BUSES

Urban Dwellers Aren’t Abandoning Buses; Buses are Abandoning Them

This article from News Geography takes a look at why bus ridership is declining, and they say the data points to a decrease in bus service being the reason.

Should Colfax Give Up Car Lanes for Faster Bus Service?

Specifically about Denver, Colorado, but applicable to any city. Is this a trade worth making?

Back to College for Bus Workers

Bus Drivers in the UK are getting more than satisfying work and a paycheck from their jobs. They’re learning foreign languages and other fun and useful skills right out of the First Group bus company’s garages. What a great way for a company to care for the whole employee!

Euro VI Bus and Coach Registrations in 2015 Top 50%

Over half of the buses registered in 2015 met the Euro VI standard for emissions. The article talks about the reasons for this boost in compliance, and how the companies will continue to improve their reduction of emissions.

UK Bus Operators Make Case for Contactless Travel

Five leading bus companies, Stagecoach, First Bus, Go-Ahead, Arriva and National Express, are working to make contactless travel the standard in Britain by 2022.

All Electric Bus

Metro McAllen shared their excitement about their new all electric bus with a picture on Twitter.

SCHOOL BUSES

New School Bus Law to Improve Crossing Roads

Bus drivers in North Carolina are now using hand signals to let kids know if it’s safe to cross the road or not.

When a School Bus Full of Kids was Heading for a Ditch, This Boy Saved Them in the Most Amazing Way

14 year old Cory jumped into the driver’s seat and hit the brake when the bus driver became unconscious after a car hit the bus.

School Bus Fleet Launches New Website, New Look

Their new website is looking very nice with easier navigation and better response for mobile users. Check it out!

Connecticut District May Cut School Bus Aides

This school district wants to cut aides from its buses to save money, but some parents are in opposition. What do you think? Should all school buses have aides?

TRAINS

Transit Officials Unmask New CTrain Car

Check out Calgary Transit’s sleek new car! It’s “more reliable, more spacious, more accessible with a variety of new features.”

Hyperloop Transportation Technologies Breaks Ground to Make Elon Musk’s Hyperloop a Reality

The Hyperloop is a vacuum tube that will be able to transport passengers at 800 MPH from one major city to another at a fraction of the cost of high speed rail.

Gothard Base Tunnel Freight Tests Begin

Switzerland is testing the world’s longest railway tunnel, which will have regular service by the end of the year.

Lyon to Torino TBM Completed

France is working on tunnels for a high speed railway.

First Metrolink F125 Completed

Metrolink in Los Angeles, California will have it’s first F125 Spirit diesel locomotive.

London Suburban Metro and Local Input to Franchising Proposed

The Department for Transport and Transport for London are working together to potentially create a London Suburban Metro.

Bus, train, ferry and public transport news.

STEAM TRAINS

Visitors Enjoy Steam Town on MLK Day, First of Several Free Admission Days Planned for 2016

The National Historic Site offered free admission on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, so families could come learn about the history of steam trains.

PUBLIC TRANSPORT

County to Provide Free Bus Passes for Those Registering to Vote

Milwaukee County will spend up to $20,000 to provide free bus passes for voters.

DOT Secretary Foxx Outlines Infrastructure Vision

US Department of Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx discussed the infrastructure deficit and ways to improve planning for transportation dollars.

Top 10 Reasons to Thank Congress

The American Public Transportation Association lists 10 reasons to thank the US Congress for passing the FAST Act, the first long term transportation bill in 10 years.

A Good Transport Plan for Bristol

SusTrans lays out a plan that’s greener, cheaper and more efficient than reliance on fossil fuels.

TOUR OPERATORS

Polk County Orange Juice Being Flown to Iceland to Promote Polk Country Tourism at International Travel Tradeshow

Orange juice is being flown in to the 2016 Icelandair Mid-Atlantic Trade Show to show off one of Florida’s best features.

We’d love to hear from you!  Let us know what you think about any of these topics.